Time clocks



March 15, 1966 L c. LGIE ETAL 3,241,151

TIME cLocKs Filed Sept. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 PUNCH \N PUNCH OUT f A \f 4^ -54.71555 4, (PM sus /fl di Il PUNCH {f5} (Awans (su (SP3 IN 4 sR1A- SV II 5:) ;e/-S3 -SRZ`\` ::s3 sa "156A sw 5M l: 2 o s1 A sa? :Q54 5:21p S sas SR1 SR2. SR1 M; RD M4 L0 soi. 4 1+ R INVENTORS` LESUE C. LOCIE PAUL. P. BOUDIN BY PW WA TOPNEY March 15, 1966 .c.l oG1E ETAL 3,241,151

TIME CLOCKS Filed Sept. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2.5SQ (h-2.9 @la7 gli? y IN VEN TORS fly- LESLIE QLOGIE PAUL P. BOUDIN ATTORNEY March 15, 1966 L. c. I oGlE ETAL 3,241,151

TIME CLOCKS Filed sept. s, 1965 5 sheets-sheet s NAME.

ElAPSED TIME .T0

INVENTOR` LESLlE C.LOG|E PAUL P. BOU DIN March 15, 1966 c. LoGlE ETAL TIME CLOCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 5, 1965 IN V EN TORS EN Gm OU V.. .I .m E C N EP. W Ll.. T SU T EA ,rA LD..

March 15, 1966 L. c. LoGxE ETAL TIME CLOCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 3, 1965 INVENTORS LESLIE C. LoGlE By PAUL P. BOUDIN f ATTORNE Y United States Patent O 3,241,151 TIME CLOCKS Leslie C. Lorrie, 257 Fir St., San Carlos, Calif., and Paul P. Boudin, 1922 Arbor, Belmont, Calif. Filed Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 306,162 Claims. (Cl. 346-85) This invention relates to a time clock for recording on a time card the elapsed time between punch-in and punchout.

The time clock of the present invention is designed to furnish a record of the actual ti-me spent on a particular job or jobs by printing for each work shift the time elapsed between the punch-in and the punch-out. In most cases the punch-in will be made somewhat prior to an established starting time for that particular shift. It is a primary object of the present invention to automatically correct such early punch-ins to an established starting time indication on the card when the punch-in is earlier than the established time and to mark the card with a starting time indication corresponding to the actual time when the punch-in is later than the established starting time. It is a related object to mark the card with an initial time location in a manner which permits the initial time to be determined for the computation of elapsed time on punchout.

In the time clock of the present invention a time nut is movable linearly along the card at a xed rate. The means for marking the card at the initial time location include a pair of card punches, one of which is carried by the movable time nut and the other of which is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the card. If the punch-in is made before the established starting time, the fixed card punch is actuated to punch the card. If the punch-in occurs after the established starting time, and after the time nut has passed beyond the position of the fixed card punch, the card punch on the timing nut is actuated to punch the card. The time nut continues to move linearly away from the location at punch-in to provide a distance corresponding to the time elapsed from the initial time. When the time card is reinserted at punch-out, a sensing device measures the distance between the location of the time nut at punch-out and the location of the hole punched in the card at punch-in. This distance quantity is supplied to an elapsed time type wheel which is rotated an amount dependent on the distance, and a type hammer then engages the card with the type wheel to print a numerical indication of the elapsed time on the card at punch-out. A time clock incorporating these features and effective to function in the manner described constitutes a further object of the present invention.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims,

In the drawings:

FIG. l is an isometric view of a time clock and time card constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of an electrical circuit for the time clock shown in FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the time clock shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken just below the top cover plate of the time clock `shown in FIG. l and along the 3,241,151 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 "ice lines and in the direction indicated by the arrows 4-4 in FIGS. 5 and 7;

FIG. 5 is a sectional rear elevation view of the time clock taken along the lines and in the direction indicated by the arrows 5-5 in FIGS. 4 and 7;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view, partly broken away in the center, of the time card shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of the time clock taken along the lines and in the direction indicated by the arrows 7-7 in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view showing details of the manner in which the lower notched corners of the time card engage support arms of limit switches in the time clock;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary end elevation view showing details of the manner in which the type hammer engages the time card with an elapsed time type wheel to print a numerical indication of elapsed time on a time card;

FIG. lO is a fragmentary plan view showing details of the time stamp mechanism and the card notcher mechanism of the time clock shown in FIG. l;

FIG. l1 is a fragmentary end elevation view showing details `of the card sensor mechanism which determines the location of the punch-in hole for computation of elapsed time in the course of a punch-out operation;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary isometric view showing details of the card notcher mechanism; and

FIG. 13 is a 'fragmentary elevation view of a portion of the back-up plate showing the manner in which the back-up plate is cut out to accommodate operation of a card leveling switch and the card notcher mechanism.

In FIG. 1 a time clock constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 21. The time clock 21 has a dial face 22 for indicating actual time, a card slot 23 for the reception of a time card 24, punch-in and punch-out buttons 26 and 27, respectively, and may preferably include a pair of indicator lights 28 and 29 for assisting in the punch-in and punch-out operation.

' As best shown in FIG. 6, the time card 24 has the lower portions of each side margin formed with a series of equally spaced notches 31 which leave a series of lobes or tabs 32 projecting outwardly from the lower half of each data line on the time card. These tabs 32 coact with a card leveler switch mechanism and are subsequently clipped off by a card notcher mechanism in a manner to be described to produce the spacing of the punch-in and punch-out data entries in the manner shown on the `card in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. '4, 5 and 7, the time clock 21 includes a motor M1 which continuously rotates a time screw 33. A time nut 34 is mounted on the time screw 33 and, being held against rotation by means of a guide 36, is moved axially along the time screw and in a direction dependent on the direction of rotation .of the time screw. The time nut 34 can be manually reset by disconnecting the time screw 33 from the motor M1 and turning the time screw by hand for the necessary readjustment.

Limit switches S1 and S2 disposed vat opposite ends of the guide 36 are positioned to be engaged by the time nut 34 and, when so actuated, are effective to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor M1 so that the time nut 34 moves back and forth between the limit switches S1 and S2 to make one complete cycle of movement for a 24 hour period.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, a conventional solenoid actuated card punch 37 is attached to the underside of the time nut 34 so that the card piercer 38 is movable linearly along the time card 24 in a horizontal direction. The card piercer 38 moves in line with a horizontally extending slot 39 formed in a back-up plate 41 which forms part of the card slot assembly 23 within the interior of the time clock 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 7, two additional conventional solenoid actuated card punches y42 and 43 are mounted on the side of the back-up plate 41 opposite to that on which the movable card punch 37 is mounted. These card punches are mounted at the same level as the movable card punch 37 but are held in xed horizontal positions along a guide 44 vby means of set screws 46. Two of these iixed position card punches may be used to provide established starting times for each shift which the time clock 21 is to record. Thus, the card punches 42 and 43 illustrated in FIGS. 4 land 7 may be used for 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. starting times for a day shift. These card punches will be actuated to punch the time card at a horizontal location corresponding to an established starting time if the actual punch-in time occurs before the established starting time. The movable card punch 37 is prevented from punching the card at a location in advance of the location corresponding to the established starting time by a suitable electrical control circuit described below.

The time clock 21 includes sensor means which are movable along the path of travel of the timing means 34 for detecting the locations of yboth the initial time perforation in the time card and the timing nut 34 at punch-out. The sensor means includes a motor M2 which is effective, when energized, to rotate a screw 51. A sensor nut 52 is mounted on the screw 51 and, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 ,and 7, is held against rotation by a guide 53. The motor M2 is energized upon depression of the punch-out button 27 to drive the sensor nut 52 horizontally from the rest position shown in FIG. 5 and along the slot 39.

As best shown in FIG. 11, the sensor nut 52 carries a sensor probe 54 which is 4bracket mounted on the nut and which is eifective to make electrical contact with a contact bar 56, mounted just below the slot 39 in the back-up plate 41, when the probe 54 passes over a hole 55 punched in the card by one vof the card punches 37, 42 or 43. The electrical contact thus made is eifective to control energization of a motor or other means for producing rotation of an elapsed time type wheel in a manner to be described.

The sensor probe 54 thus serves as a detector means for detecting the location ofthe punch-in hole 55.

While a probe type sensor device 54 has been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that various other sensor means could equally well be used. Thus, for example, a photoelectric scanning mechanism could be used in place of the probe sensor S4.

The sensor nut 52 also carries a cam 57 which is effective to actuate aswitch S3 (see FIG. 5) mounted on the card punch 37 and time nut 34 when the sensor nut reaches the location lof the time nut 34. Actuation of switch S3 is also effective to control rotation of the elapsed time type wheel noted above. The cam 57 and the switch S3 serve as detector means for detecting and indicating the axial position of the time nut on punch-out.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the time clock 21 includes a time stamp mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 61 for printing the actual time of punch-in and punch-out and the elapsed time between the punch-in and punch-out. The actual time is given by a series of digital type wheels 62 which are continuously rotated by a motor M3 to indicate an actual time corresponding to that shown on the time dial 22. The elapsed time is indicated by a series of digital type wheels 64. The type wheels 64 can be rotated by a motor M4, or other suitable means, such as a signal generator. A type ribbon 6-6 is disposed between the type wheels 62 and 64 and the time card 24. A solenoid actuated type hammer 67 is actuated upon depression of the punch-in and punchout buttons to engage the time card 24 with the type ribbon 66 and type wheels 62 and 64 to print the time indicated on the type wheels on the time card 24. A rubber strip 68 may preferably be positioned between the type hammer 67 and the time card 24 to insure clear printing of the type wheels on the time card.

As best shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the type hammer 67 has a card notcher 71 mounted on the type hammer by a bracket 72. Thus, when the solenoid actuating the type hammer 67 is energized, the card notcher 71 passes through an opening 73 formed in the yback-up plate 41 (see FIG. 13) to clip oi Ithe lowermost tab 32 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12.

A second, solenoid actuated card notcher 74 (see FIG. l0) is aligned with an `opening 76 at the opposite side edge of the time card 24 and is actuated at the same time as the type hammer 67 and card notcher 71 to clip 01T thelowermost tab 32 at that end of the time card. The card notcher 71 could, of course, be solenoid actuated in the same manner as the card notcher 74.

The time card 24 comes to a rest position in the slot 23 determined by engagement of the lower edges of the lowermost projecting tabs 32 with the upper surfaces of support arms 77 and 78. See FIGS. 8 land 12. These arms in turn form a part of card level switches S4 and S5. The card level switches S4 and S5 are so arranged in the electrical control circuit for the time clock 21 that none of `the punching or stamping operations can occur unless the card is perfectly level in the time clock so as to simultaneously depress both card level switches S4 and S5. This insures that the various data lines of the time card, including all perforations 55, will be in the correct alignment with the slot 39 and contact bar 56 at punch-in and punch-out.

The manner in which the side edges of the time card are pre-notched constitutes Van important feature of the present invention. Pre-notching permits the lower support edge of each tab 32 to be accurately located with respect to 4a corresponding data line. As a result the clipping operation is not critical since the card clippers 71 and 74 are required only to clip off the projecting tab. These card notchers do not have to cut a support edge at a precise location since this support edge has already been preformed on -the next succeeding tab 32.

Referring again to FIG. 5 the electrical control system for the time clock 21 includes a switch S6 mounted for actuation by the sensor nut 52 on return of the sensor nut to its at rest position. The control system also embodies a series of relays and time -switches mount-` ed at the base of the time clock and indicated generally by the reference numeral 82.

A cycle of operation will now be described with reference to the electrical schematic wiring diagram shown 'in FIG. '2.

The rst punch-in operation is started by dropping the time card in the time slot 23 to a position in which the lower edges of the lowermost 4side tabs 32 engage the support arms 77 and 78 to close the card leveling switches S4 and SS. The closing of these switches can preferably be used to light one of the indicator lights by'a circuit which is not shown in FIG. 2. Assuming operation during `a day shift, the continuously running reversible type synchronous motor M1 drives the time nut 34 rightward as viewed in FIG. 4 until it engages the-limit switch S2 to open the contacts S2 and close the contacts S1 shown in FIG. 2. Contact with switch S2 reverses the direction of movement of the time nut for nighttime operation.

Momentary `operation of Vthe punch-in button 26 closes the punch-in contacts, shown in FIG. 2, to energize the solenoid for the type hammer 67 and to drive the time card 24 against the ink ribbon 66 and type wheels 62 and 64. This will print actual time in from the type wheels 62, which are continuously rotated by motor M3, as shown in FIG. 2, and a zero quantity from the type wheel 64 since motor M4 is in its reset position. Assuming that the time of punch-in is eight oclock in this case, the card punch 37 will be opposite the eight oclock column on the time card 24 as shown in FIG. 6, and the solenoid for the card punch 37 will be energized through two time switches S9 and S10, included in the time switches and relays indicated by the general reference numeral 82 in FIG. 5, which are closed at eight oclock. Assuming a punch-in earlier than eight oclock, the time switches S9 and S10 would be open and time switch S11 would be closed to energize the solenoid for the fixed position card punch 42. Thus, in either case the perforation 55 would occur in the eight oclock column at the position indicated in FIG. 6. Ifa punch-in occurred some time after eight oclock the perforation 55 would, of course, be shifted some distance to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 depending on the amount of travel of the time nut 34 from the eight oclock position. Actuation of the vtype hammer 67 causes card notcher 71 to notch the oclock while closing the contacts S9 and S10.

On a punch-out operation following a punch-in, the time card 24 drops one data line farther into the slot 23, since the lowermost tabs 32 have been clipped off on the punch-in operation, to present the next data line to the type wheels and to place the perforation 55 at the same horizontal level as the sensor probe 54 and contact bar 56.

For a Ipunch-out operation the time card is again dropped in the slot until it closes level switches S4 and S5. This positions the card properly in the time slot as above described, and momentary operation of the punchout button 27 closes the punch-out contacts as shown in FIG. 2. Control energy for the punch-out operation during the `daylight hours from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is obtained through contacts S7 in a time switch while control energy for the punch-out during the hours from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is obtained through contacts S8 in the time switch. Operation of the punch-out button thus energizes relay R1 which closes contacts SR1 and opens contacts SRlA in the circuit for the sensor motor M2. Energization of relay R1 also closes contacts SR1 in the holding circuit for the relay and closes contacts SR1 in the circuit for a second relay R2. Closure of the contacts SR1 in the circuit for the sensor motor M2 starts movement of the sensor nut 52 to the right as viewed in FIG. 5. As soon -as the probe 54 makes contact with the contact bar 56 through the perforation 55 in the time card, the sensor contacts 54 energize relay R4 as shown in FIG. 2. This closes contacts SR4 in the circuit for the relay R2, which in turn closes contacts SR2 in the circuit for the elapsed time stamp motor M4 and seals in relay R2 through the contacts SR2 in the holding circuit. The elapsed time stamp motor M4 continues to rotate the type wheels 64 until the sensor nut 52 reaches the location of the time nut 34. At this point the cam 57 on the sensor nut opens the contacts in `the switch S3 which opens the holdin circuit for the relay R1 to de-energize this relay. This also de-energizes relay R2 to stop rotation of the elapsed time stamp motor M4. De-energization of relay R1 reverses the contacts SR1 and SRlA in the circuit for the sensor motor M2 to reverse the direction of rotation. The return travel of the sensor nut 52 causes the sensor nut 52 to engage the switch S6. The switch S6 includes two sets .of contacts, S6 in the circuit for the motor M2 and S6A in the circuit for the type hammer solenoid 67 and card clipper solenoid 74. The contacts S6A are made Iirst to stamp the actual time at punch-out as registered by the type wheels 62 and the elapsed time between punch-out and the immediately preceding punch-in as registered by the type wheels 64. Actuation of the type hammer 67 and the card clipper 74 are effective to clip the lowermost lobes 32 from the card and thus prepare the time card for the next punch-in operation. Contacts S6 are then opened to stop rotation of the motor M2 with the sensor nut 52 in the at rest position shown in FIG. 5. The indicator light 29 may then be lighted, by a circuit not shown, to indicate that the card may be withdrawn.

The above describes a punch-out operation for the daylight hours (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). For a punchout during the night hours, the main difference is that the sensor nut scanning procedure is reversed in that energization of the elapsed time motor M4 is started by contact with the time nut and stopped when the probe 54 encounters the hole punched in the time card at the immediately preceding punch-in. The relay R1 is again picked by operation of the punch-out button but through contacts S8. This starts sensor motor M2 to drive the sensor nut 52 until the sensor nut reaches the location of the time nut 34 and closes the contacts S3 to energize the relay R3. Relay R3 closes contacts SRS in the circuit for the elapsed time motor M4 to start rotation of the type Wheels 64. The sensor nut 52 continues to travel until the sensor probe 54 contacts the contact bar 56 through the punched hole in the card. This closure of contacts 54 energizes relay R4 which opens contacts SR4 to deenergize relays R3 and R1. This opens contacts SRS in the circuit for the elapsed time motor M4 to stop rotation of this motor. This also reverses the contacts SR1 and SRlA in the circuit for the sensor motor M2 to reverse the motor and thus the direction of travel of the sensor nut 52. Th-e remainder of the cycle is the same as previously described for the daylight hours.

Hence, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and we therefor-e do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A time clock for indicating on a time card the elapsed time between an initial time and a punch-out time, said time clock comprising, punch-in means including a card perforator for piercing the card at the initial time location, timing means providing a card distance corresponding to the time elapsed from the initial time and including a time nut movable Iaxially along a rotatable time screw, sensor means for measuring the linear distance between the hole punched in the card at the location corresponding to the initial time and the location of the time nut at the punch-out time, said sensor means including a rotatable screw and a sensor nut mounted on the screw for axial movement along the screw and parallel to the direction of motion of the tim-e nut, a card scanner for scanning the time card and determining the location of the punch-in hole, and a switch actuated when the sensor nut reaches the location of the time nut, an elapsed time type wheel for printing the elapsed time between punch-in and punch-out on the time card, and control means responsive to the card scanner and said switch for rotating the elapsed time type wheel an amount which is a function of the distance between the hole punched in the card at the initial time andthe location of the time nut at punch-out as measured by the sensor means.

2. A time clock as defined in claim 1 in which the punch-in means include a fixed position card perforator for piercing the card at a selected location corresponding to a selected earliest starting time and a movable card perforator carried on the time nut for piercing the card at times later than the selected earliest starting time and time switches for energizing only the fixed position card perforator at punchin times earlier than the selected starting t-ime and for energizing only the movable card perforator at punch-in times later than the selected starting time.

3. -A time clock as dened in claim 1 including type Wheels for imprinting the actual time of punch-in and punch-out on the time card.

4. A time clock for indicating on a time .card the elapsed time between an initial time and a punch-out time, said time clock comprising, timing means providing a card distance corresponding to the time elapsed from the initial time and including a time nut movable axially along a rotatable time screw, punch-in means including a card punch mounted on the time nut for piercing the card at an initial time location, sensor means for measuring the linear distance between the hole punched in the card at the location corresponding to the initial time and the location of the time nut at the punch-out time, said sensor means including a rotatable sensor screw and a sensor nut movable axially .along the screw, rst detector means for detecting the punch-in perforation in the card as the sensor nut is driven axially past the punch-in perforation, second detector means for sensing the location of the time nut at punch-out as the sensor nut is driven axially toward the time nut, an elapsed time type wheel for printing the elapsed time on the card at punch-out, drive means actuated by the rst and second detector means for rotating the elapsedV time type wheel an amount corresponding to the linear distance between the hole punched in the card at punch-in and the location of the time lnut at punch-out, and support means for supporting the card level with the path of travel of the sensor means during punch-in and punch-out and including card clipper means for cutting tabs from the card on each punch-in and punch-out operation at card locations which permit the card to be progressively inserted a xed amount further into the time cl-ock on each punch-in and punch-out operation.

5. A time clock as defined in claim 4 including a time card having pre-notched side edges affording evenly spaced side tabs adapted to engage Ithe support means and adapted to be cut ol by the card clipper means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 657,162 9/1900 Giroud 346-134 834,365 10/1906 Darlington 23S/61.9 870,667 ll/1907 Darlington 346/104 1,049,473 1/1913 Goss et al 346-61 2,968,521 1/196-1 Gross 346-85 2,983,443 5/1961 Robinson et al. 346-82 X LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TIME CLOCK FOR INDICATING ON A TIME CARD THE ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN AN INITIAL TIME AND A PUNCH-OUT TIME, SAID TIME CLOCK COMPRISING, PUNCH-IN MEANS INCLUDING A CARD PERFORATOR FOR PIERCING THE CARD AT THE INITIAL TIME LOCATION, TIMING MEANS PROVIDING A CARD DISTANCE CORRESPONDING TO THE TIME ELAPSED FROM THE INITIAL TIME AND INCLUDING A TIME NUT MOVABLE AXIALLY ALONG A ROTATABLE TIME SCREW, SENSOR MEANS FOR MEASURING THE LINEAR DISTANCE BETWEEN THE HOLE PUNCHED IN THE CARD AT THE LOCATION CORRESPONDING TO THE INITIAL TIME AND THE LOCATION OF THE TIME NUT AT THE PUNCH-OUT TIME, SAID SENSOR MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE SCREW AND A SENSOR NUT MOUNTED ON THE SCREW FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT OF ALONG THE SCREW AND PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOTION OF THE TIME NUT, A CARD SCANNER FOR SCANNING THE TIME CARD AND DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF THE PUNCH-IN HOLE, AND A SWITCH ACTUATED WHEN THE SENSOR NUT REACHES THE LOCATION OF THE TIME NUT, AN ELAPSED TIME TYPE WHEEL FOR PRINTING THE ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN PUNCH-IN AND PUNCH-OUT ON THE TIME CARD, AND CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE CARD SCANNER AND SAID SWITCH FOR ROTATING THE ELAPSED TIME TYPE WHEEL AN AMOUNT WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE HOLE PUNCHED IN THE CARD AT THE INITIAL TIME AND THE LOCATION OF THE TIME NUT AT PUNCH-OUT AS MEASURED BY THE SENSOR MEANS. 